To all who have done a 1st gen SAS...

[FMExplorer]

My axle is in place - center of the axle is located the same as stock. However, the pinion on the D44 is longer than the D35 - making the driveshaft a tad long. Anyone run into this? Were you able to locate a shaft or did you have to get yours shortened?

Thanks for the help!

J

 

[FMExplorer]

Ok - the driveshaft is obviously going to be shortened. However, in the last 10 minutes I discovered something interesting... Steering issues...

I have all brand new steering components for a 75 bronco (cuz that's the axle I have) and here is the issue...

Drag link is too long - by about 4". What options are there besides shortening this one? Are there any drag links that are the right length? Nothing like getting to the end of a project and running into a snag like this

J

 

[CoryL]

Not sure on the stock drag link setup.

I know a friend with a full width setup used an F100 drag link. He ended up turning it into a pretzel though.

If you can't find anything and can't get anything to work, I can make a custom set of heim jointed links.

 

[FMExplorer]

COry,
Thanks - that will probably be the answer in the long run. I think at this point I will take the drag link and have it cut, shortened and threaded so I can use a tie-rod adjustment sleeve to get the right length. Either that or I may have it cut and shortened, then add a metal sleeve to the outside and weld that sucker in place.

BTW - for future reference (or sooner than later) what would a custom set of links with a drag link run? I may end up bringing these parts back ...

J

 

[jeffseal]

what do yall think of TRE vs. Heim Joints?????

 

[FMExplorer]

And TRE is what? Completely ignorant here....

J

 

[jeffseal]

sorry, tie rod end

 

[FMExplorer]

That's kinda what I thought Jeff - just wanted to be sure.

Have tire rods now, but with shortening the drag link I am concerned about overall geometry and steering effectiveness. However, I am not certain I can return the parts as many were special order.

J

 

[Randall]

I had to shorten my front driveshaft.
My track bar was cut down and threaded.

 

[FMExplorer]

The tracbar I think I can run at current length - it's the drag link that's giving me issues.

You had to shorten the driveshaft by about 2", right? That seems to be what I have to do as well....

J

 

[Randall]

Sorry, I got ahead of myself there
I cut the front driveshaft pretty close to 2 inches.
I used the stock explorer drag link, cut down and rethreaded.
I had to cut my track bar, since it came off a 1979 fullsize.